Cowboys and cowgirls flock to Red Bluff for the Round-Up

The Red Bluff Round-Up is on the minds and the GPS units of cowboys and cowgirls across the nation this week.

It's the biggest pro rodeo taking place this weekend, and, with $15,000 in the purse for each event, a major stop for rodeo contestants.

Five hundred-nine contestants will pull trucks and trailers into town, preparing to race, ride, rope and wrestle their way to the gold buckle.

Out of those 500-plus contestants, current and former world champs abound. The reigning bareback champ, Kaycee Feild, will ride, as will the current team roping heeler, Jade Corkill. Former world title holders coming to Red Bluff include Tuf Cooper and Fred Whitfield for tie-down roping; Jesse Kruse, Cody Wright and Jesse Wright in saddle bronc riding; Chad Masters and Patrick Smith for team roping; Bobby Mote in bareback riding; and the "king" of the cowboys, Trevor Brazile, who has won 19 world titles in the tie-down, team roping, and all-around.

For Ferndale cowboy Billy Bugenig, competing in Red Bluff is special.

"It's a fun place to be," Bugenig said. "Usually the weather is good, the grass is still green, and it's a good time of the year to be in Red Bluff."

Bugenig figures he's steer wrestled in Red Bluff about 10 times; he's never won the rodeo, but has placed.

For the 2013 Red Bluff Round-Up saddle bronc riding champion, Cort Scheer, he's glad to return. Last year was the first time the Elsmere, Neb. cowboy entered the Round-Up, and he'll be back this year. Not only did he win the saddle bronc riding, but he won the Wild Ride as well.

"I was pretty lucky," he said. "It's such a good rodeo. Especially after you ride in the regular rodeo, and then get to have fun in the wild ride." This year, he will ride on Friday night so he will miss the Wild Ride, which he regrets. "I dang sure hate to miss it. I had a danged good costume."

Last year, Scheer dressed as a woman; this year, he had hoped to dress as a blind rodeo judge.

All eight of last year's Round-Up champs will return to vie for a repeat of their title. The 2013 champs are JR Vezain in bareback riding, Tuf Cooper in tie-down roping, Stan Branco in steer wrestling, Scheer in saddle bronc riding, Calvin Brevik and Travis Woodard in team roping, Trula Churchill in barrel racing and Cody Campbell in bull riding.

The Red Bluff Round-Up is one of 12 rodeos nationwide designated as a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver Rodeo.

For the first time, the final performance of the rodeo on April 20 will be streamed live online at Wranglerwestern.com.

Tickets range in price from $13-$27 and can be purchased online at RedBluffRoundup.com, at the ticket office 530-527-1000 and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call the Round-Up office.